Tracking Notable MLB Moves Ahead of the 2026 Season: Signings, Trades and Extensions
Early offseason movement sets the tone for 2026
It is never too early to start tracking the building blocks of the 2026 MLB season. As teams reshape rosters through free agency, trades, extensions and buyouts, the offseason provides a clear snapshot of priorities: reinforcing bullpens, adding middle-of-the-order bats, and finding value in short-term deals while still committing to a few long-term cornerstones.
Below is a structured overview of notable moves reported so far, including several high-dollar commitments, a handful of one-year “prove it” contracts, and trades that shift talent across multiple organizations.
Major contracts and headline signings
Several deals stand out for their length or total value. The Orioles made one of the biggest commitments by signing first baseman Pete Alonso to a reported five-year, $155 million agreement. The Phillies also made a significant long-term bet by re-signing designated hitter Kyle Schwarber for a reported five years and $150 million.
On the pitching side, the Blue Jays committed heavily to right-hander Dylan Cease on a reported seven-year, $210 million deal. The Dodgers added to the back end of their bullpen by signing Edwin Diaz for a reported three years, $69 million, while the Mets bolstered their relief group by signing Devin Williams for a reported three years, $45 million.
Other notable multi-year agreements include the Braves signing right-hander Robert Suarez for a reported three years, $45 million, and the Mets signing infielder Jorge Polanco for a reported two years, $40 million.
Trades that reshaped depth and addressed needs
Trades have been active across the league, ranging from straightforward player-for-player swaps to more complex packages that include cash and draft considerations.
Red Sox and Cardinals: Boston acquired first baseman Willson Contreras and $8 million to help cover $41 million remaining on his contract. St. Louis received right-handers Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita.
Orioles and Rays: Baltimore acquired right-hander Shane Baz. Tampa Bay received left-hander Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-hander Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn, and a Competitive Balance Round A pick.
Semien and Nimmo swap: The Mets acquired infielder Marcus Semien, while the Rangers acquired outfielder Brandon Nimmo.
Angels and Orioles: The Orioles acquired outfielder Taylor Ward, while the Angels received right-hander Grayson Rodriguez.
Mariners and Nationals: Seattle received left-hander Jose A. Ferrer. Washington received catcher Harry Ford and right-hander Isaac Lyon.
Royals and Phillies: Kansas City acquired left-hander Matt Strahm, while Philadelphia received right-hander Jonathan Bowlan.
Reds and Marlins: Cincinnati acquired outfielder Dane Myers, while Miami received outfielder Ethan O’Donnell.
Braves and Astros infield swap: Atlanta acquired infielder Mauricio Dubón, while Houston acquired infielder Nick Allen.
Additional smaller trades included the Dodgers and Mariners swapping pitchers (Tyler Gough to Los Angeles; Robinson Ortiz to Seattle), the Rays dealing right-hander Cole Wilcox to the Mariners for cash considerations, and the Cubs trading right-hander Andrew Kittredge to the Orioles for cash considerations.
Extensions, buyouts and roster decisions
Beyond signings and trades, teams also made key contractual decisions that affect future flexibility. The Royals extended third baseman Maikel Garcia on a reported five-year, $57.5 million deal with a maximum value of $85 million. The Angels executed a buyout of third baseman Anthony Rendon, with details indicating Rendon will make $38 million over the next three-to-five years.
Elsewhere, the Guardians designated outfielder Jhonkesny Noel for assignment after he hit 13 home runs in 67 regular-season games in 2024.
Pitching market: starters and relievers in demand
Pitching has been a major focus, with many clubs targeting both rotation stability and bullpen reliability. The Padres agreed to a three-year deal with starting pitcher Michael King, who posted a 5-3 record with a 3.44 earned run average. The Giants agreed to a two-year deal with pitcher Adrian Houser; his listed 2025 performance included an 8-5 record and a 3.31 ERA. The Giants also added right-hander Jason Foley on a reported one-year, $2 million deal.
Relief pitching saw numerous one- and two-year commitments. The Mets signed Luke Weaver for a reported two years, $22 million. The Phillies signed right-hander Brad Keller for a reported two years, $22 million. The Tigers signed right-hander Kenley Jansen to a reported one-year deal and re-signed right-hander Kyle Finnegan for a reported two years, $19 million.
Other pitching signings included the Angels signing right-hander Kirby Yates (reported one year, $5 million), the White Sox signing left-hander Sean Newcomb (reported one year, $4.5 million), the Nationals signing left-hander Foster Griffin (reported one year, $5.5 million), and the Athletics signing right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. (reported one year, $3 million). The Astros signed right-hander Ryan Weiss to a reported one-year, $2.6 million deal with an option that could exceed $10 million over two years.
Several additional pitching moves were reported, including the Orioles signing right-hander Ryan Helsley (reported two years, $28 million), the Cardinals signing right-hander Dustin May (reported one year), and the Reds re-signing right-hander Emilio Pagan (reported two years, $20 million).
Position players: power, versatility and international resumes
Teams also added bats and defensive flexibility. The Phillies signed outfielder Adolis García to a reported one-year, $10 million deal. The Twins signed first baseman Josh Bell to a reported one-year contract with a mutual option. The Yankees re-signed infielder Amed Rosario (reported one year, $2.5 million). The Rays signed outfielder Cedric Mullins to a reported one-year deal, and the Marlins signed outfielder Christopher Morel to a reported one-year contract.
International and league-to-league movement also appeared in the reported transactions. The White Sox signed infielder Munetaka Murakami to a reported two-year, $34 million deal; his listed track record includes 246 home runs in eight seasons for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and a league-record 56 home runs in 2022. The Padres signed infielder Sung-Mun Song (reported terms TBD), with listed 2025 KBO stats of 26 home runs, 90 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and a .315/.387/.530 slash line in 574 at-bats.
More notable transactions at a glance
Blue Jays: finalized a deal with right-hander Tyler Rogers (reported three years, $37 million); signed right-hander Cody Ponce (reported three years, $30 million).
Braves: signed outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (reported two years, $23 million); re-signed right-hander Raisel Iglesias (reported one year, $16 million).
Pirates: signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn (reported two years, $29 million); signed left-hander Gregory Soto (reported one year, $7.75 million).
Padres: re-signed left-hander Kyle Hart to a one-year, $1.2 million contract that includes a club option for 2027.
Angels: acquired infielder Vaughn Grissom (reported Grissom to Angels; Red Sox received outfielder Isaiah Jackson); signed Alek Manoah (reported one year, $1.95 million).
What this early activity suggests
Even at this stage, the reported transactions show a mix of approaches: some teams are committing to star-level talent with long-term deals, while others are spreading risk across shorter contracts and targeted trades. As more moves are completed, the overall picture of contenders and retooling clubs will become clearer—but the foundation for 2026 is already taking shape through these signings, swaps, and extensions.